The 45th District City Council special election is shaping up more and more like an all-out brawl between frontrunners Monique Chandler-Waterman and Farah Louis.
Meanwhile, dark horse candidate Xamayla Rose continues to let her work in the community speak for itself with the recent unveiling of an Immigration Services Community Directory.
According to an email from noted political consultant Hank Sheinkopf, Chandler-Waterman, “the woman considered likely to be endorsed by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams to replace him in his former council seat, is reported to be under investigation by the City Department of Education’s (DOE) Office of Special Investigations for assisting in the cover-up of an alleged sexual assault.”
The email went on to state that Waterman’s husband, a football coach at Tilden High School, has been removed and suspended without pay for failing to report an allegation of sexual assault by members of the football team within the mandated 24-hour span.
“Chandler-Waterman retaliated by standing outside the school and screaming at NYPD officers, acting bizarrely and aggressively according to a video taken by those at the scene (video attached),” the email went on to say.
The attached video, which KCP was not able to load on this site because of its large file size, shows an obviously distraught Chandler-Waterman. However, considering one of her children is a student at the school, it appears within the norm of a strong-willed woman, mother and wife that has some issues with the school, in which their child attends.
Chandler-Waterman Campaign Spokesperson Ashaina Cumberbatch responded that it’s completely false to claim that Waterman is under a DOE investigation.
“When her son’s school blatantly mismanaged the handling of a possible sexual assault between two students, Monique joined parents to stand up and speak out. As a result of their protests, Monique and several parents worked with the school’s principal, superintendents and the DOE Chancellor to improve the way our city addresses matters of safety and security in public schools,” said Cumberbatch.
“She’s been a community organizer, educator and activist throughout her entire career fighting for better schools and safer streets, and will continue to fight against injustices within our community as our next council member,” she added.
Sheinkopf said he was not hired by any of the other candidate’s campaign to do a smear campaign on Chandler-Waterman, and as the first campaign finance filing period is not due until Friday, KCP was unable to check his statement against the city’s Campaign Finance Board candidate’s expenditures.
Neither Louis, nor Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte, who is largely running Louis’ campaign, could be reached at post time for comment.
Meanwhile Rose was at the Flatbush Junction where Nostrand and Flatbush avenues intersect near Brooklyn College last week handing out her new immigration community directory guide to serve the immigrant population within the community.
These guides provide information about free and legal social services for immigrants. Rose is the first candidate to produce a guide for immigrants.
“Our neighborhoods are home to a large population of immigrant communities. We really need to ensure that they have access to the resources they need to feel supported — especially since the systems and government are hard to navigate at times even for native speakers,” Rose said.
“These immigration services community directories will provide information for free legal and social services in one handy guide. These essential resources will hopefully empower and provide help to our immigrant community members,” she added.
Other candidates in the race include Jean Similien, Anthony Alexis, Anthony Beckford, Victor Jordan, Jovia Radix, Hercules Reid, Adina Sash and L. Rickie Tulloch. The district includes Flatbush, East Flatbush, Flatlands, Midwood and Canarsie.
The Special Election is slated for May 14.
